My Brother-in-law is the Prince

  Zhang Anshi has arrived at the prison.

   Looking at all the people invited by the driver's sticker, I couldn't help being excited.

  These... will all be... human in the future.

  Xinzhou has a vast land and is especially rich in mineral resources, and most of the minerals are rich ore, with low mining costs and high quality.

   Besides, there is still enough arable land and grassland, at least in this era, it is enough to feed tens of millions of people.

  It's just that now... what Xinzhou lacks the most is people.

   Compared with refugees, Zhang Anshi actually prefers relatives of prisoners.

   It's not because prisoners are easy to manage, but because, in Daming, those who can be called family members of prisoners are actually rich or expensive.

  People from such a family have spent countless resources on cultivation since they were young.

  Reading and writing are no problem for them.

People... still need to study after all, no matter what kind of books they read, even if these people can no longer count on the imperial examination, after studying, it is far easier to learn other crafts and things to live and live than for people who cannot read many.

   To put it bluntly, even if it is just carpentry, an old craftsman who relies entirely on experience may not be able to create higher value in the carpentry industry than a person who has read poetry and books and has considerable experience.

  After all, experience, as long as you really do it, you can grow it slowly.

  But how to draw inferences from one example, how to use your brains in the woodworking process to improve the craft and production methods, this is far behind the former.

  The problem of the Ming Dynasty is precisely that the truly hard-working people cannot obtain educational resources.

   But dignitaries who have a lot of educational resources disdain production.

  Therefore, even though all production methods have created a lot of brilliance, no one is willing to record them, so that they cannot be accumulated, and no one can summarize them, and finally they are short-lived.

   What Zhang Anshi lacks is not manpower, but a large number of people like Shen Kuo and Song Yingxing who are both concerned about production and knowledgeable.

  The educational resources piled up by people's fat and people's anointment are finally reduced to a tool for writing articles and titles, which is really a waste of money.

  Now, these people have all become sinners and have fallen from the clouds.

  Uncle Zhang is about to reward them with a bite of food and send them to Xinzhou to regain their lives. They have suffered a lot and have been stabbed for thousands of miles. After suffering, they finally have a place to live.

   Now that they are reduced to the lowest level of ordinary people, they have to rely on hard work to eat, are they afraid that they will go against the sky?

  But as long as they are willing to combine their knowledge with the application in their labor, they will surely become the backbone of all walks of life.

  Zhang Anshi walked to the punishment hall of the Imperial Prison, inspected it, then called Chen Li and Chen Daowen over, and said, "How many criminals are there now?"

   "More than a thousand people, I'm afraid there are more than a thousand people in each province."

  Zhang Anshi regretfully said: "So few?"

   "Ah...this..."

  Zhang An Shidao: "This king means... to get rid of the evil, and this time, His Majesty means to cut the grass and root out the roots. Of course... you can't wrong the good people."

   "Humble understands." Chen Lidao: "Right now... it's just the tip of the iceberg... Humble here, I'm still doing my best."

  Zhang Anshi nodded: "It's okay, you can take your time. Now it adds up to more than 2,000 households. This family...Let me do the math...Can such a large family have more than a dozen members?"

"I'm afraid it's more than that." Chen Daowen said from the side: "Your Highness...these are big families, and they have arrested many people and their family members. The scale of this family is not small. Many people, wives and concubines have several houses. , there are quite a few children, probably... probably a family of 30 to 50 people. There is also a man named Liu Jin, who is a gentleman from Jiangxi, and his brother-in-law is also a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion. Wives and concubines, that's all... it's not over..."

  Zhang Anshi didn't react for a while, so he subconsciously said: "What do you mean that you haven't finished the calculation?"

Chen Daowen said: "There are still a lot of housewives, not counting, there are more than 20 children of this guy, and a few brothers... It's not a fuel-efficient lamp. There are nearly a hundred people here and there. gone."

Zhang Anshi was also shocked, and then he got angry and said angrily: "Damn it, ordinary people can't even marry a wife, they are so cruel... Forget it, this person... His Majesty has pardoned him and left him alone." But... capital crimes can be avoided, but living crimes cannot be escaped. The family is neat and tidy, not to mention one person, and they will all be sent to Xinzhou for exile! Remember, they must be neat, this person belongs to Duke Jin after all Brother-in-law, if someone is left behind and told to separate their flesh and blood, this king will not bear it."

  Chen Daowen said: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I understand."

  Zhang Anshi said: "If there are thirty or fifty people in one household, wouldn't it be close to one hundred thousand people...if some more criminals are arrested...if there are two hundred thousand people..."

   Seeing Zhang Anshi muttering, he became more and more energetic as he talked, Chen Daowen was speechless, and couldn't help but look at his uncle Chen Li, as if he wanted to see something from his uncle's face.

  Chen Li glanced at Zhang Anshi and expressed his helplessness.

  Zhang Anshi immediately said: "Okay, this matter... let it be like this, the next thing you have to work hard on, and other things, this king will not care too much. But there are a few things you have to keep in mind."

  Chen Li and Chen Daowen quickly put away their minds, and said seriously: "Please show me, Your Highness."

  Zhang Anshi paced a few steps thoughtfully, and then said slowly: "First, these are imperial convicts, and their family members should be strictly guarded immediately. If one escapes, it will be a death penalty."

   "Secondly, there is no need to teach them to suffer. They should eat and drink. Don't starve to death. If they are sick, they should be treated. If necessary, they should not be punished."

"Third..." Zhang Anshi paused, and then said: "This is the most important thing. There is no imperial decree and this king's edict, no matter who it is, whether it is Dongchang, Wenyuan Pavilion or Six Departments. , if you ask for family members, you will not give any of them."

  Chen Daowen opened his eyes suddenly, and said in shock: "Your Highness...couldn't it be...the court still has their henchmen, maybe... find a way to exonerate them?"

  Zhang Anshi took a deep look at Chen Daowen: "Is there no need for it?"

  Chen Daowen said solemnly: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I understand. From today, I will take care of it myself."

  Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "Since this is the case, then this king will feel at ease."

   Immediately, Zhang Anshi drove back home.

Chen Li and Chen Daowen personally went out of the prison to see them off, watching Zhang Anshi's car gradually go away, Chen Daowen still had a look of admiration in his eyes, and said: "Uncle, no, Commander, Your Highness is really thoughtful, why didn't I Think about it? These imperial convicts are all either rich or noble, and they have a lot of contacts, and there must be someone in the court to help, so it seems that the pressure on our Jinyiwei is not small."

  Chen Li smiled at him, and said lightly: "Okay, don't think about it all day long, and do your own thing well."

Chen Daowen calmed down, and then said: "Commander, I think I have to think of a way to send freshmen from the official school to guard. My eyelids keep twitching. After hearing what His Highness said, I feel something strange in my heart. Commander... Don't you think... there might be something important behind this?"

  Chen Li took a meaningful look at Chen Daowen: "If you think there is, then there is."

  Chen Daowen: "..."

  At the other end, Zhang Anshi returned to his palace excitedly.

   But at this time, Zhang San has already made arrangements.

   Originally thought that the emperor died, so everyone in the palace was dressed in sackcloth and mourning, and the palace was also decorated.

   Now that His Majesty has heard that His Majesty has returned from the dead, he feels that it is unlucky, so he hastened to remove it. The whole palace is naturally very busy.

  As soon as Zhang Anshi came back, Zhang San said: "Your Highness, you don't know..."

  Zhang Anshi waved his hand: "Okay, okay, my mother's Jinyiwei was born, the roundworm in your majesty's stomach, there are still things in the world that this king doesn't know? Stop showing off the nonsense you heard in front of this king."

  Zhang San then laughed, and said: "It's not...ahem...it's...the owner of Ma's Shipbuilding... came to visit."

  Zhang Anshi was taken aback for a moment, a little surprised, then frowned and said, "Is that the number one scholar?"

   "Exactly."

   Zhang Anshi nodded and said, "Where is the man?"

Zhang San was a person who followed Zhang Anshi all the way in the past, and he was a little more casual in front of Zhang Anshi than other servants, so he said truthfully: "I didn't teach him to enter. This is the palace of the prince of Wuhu County. How can he be an idler?" Come whenever you want? Your Highness, you..."

  Zhang Anshi looked at him with a half-smile: "Then he stuffed you with a little money, and you just invited him in?"

  Zhang San was startled, and said: "Your Highness, but... that's not the case..."

   But his tone became weaker and weaker.

  Zhang Anshi didn't say much, just smiled and said, "Where is the man?"

   "Arranged in the side hall."

  Zhang Anshi nodded and continued walking inside.

   After entering the side hall, someone got up and hurriedly saluted Zhang Anshi, it was Na Ma Yu.

  Zhang Anshi just said: "Excuse me, you know this king, you don't like... these hypocritical people, why... Mr. Ma smelled something again, and came here suddenly."

  Ma Yu smiled, and said, "I heard some news."

  Zhang Anshi sat down firmly, picked up the teacup sent by his servants, took a sip of tea calmly, and said: "Speak."

  Ma Yu said: "I heard... Your Majesty has captured many imperial convicts, and there are quite a few of them. All of these people's clansmen will be exiled, and I heard... exiled to Xinzhou?"

  Zhang Anshi immediately put down the teacup and looked at Ma Yu warily.

  Ma Yu got the news very quickly.

Ma Yu seemed to understand Zhang Anshi's intentions, and hurriedly explained: "Your Highness, don't blame me. I only do business. I don't dare to interfere with the affairs of the court, and I don't dare to ask too much. It's just... the way of business, news is also the most important thing. Many times, a piece of news is enough to make people one step faster, and one step faster...means a profit..."

  Zhang Anshi also agrees: "There is such a thing."

  Ma Yu was still honest, so Zhang Anshi didn't pursue it further, and immediately picked up the teacup and said, "Mr. Ma saw an opportunity?"

"Yes." Ma Yu nodded and said: "Students plan, Ma's Shipping Company will increase the shipping from Xinzhou to Songjiang Estuary, Pearl River Estuary, and Denglai. The number of cargo ships per month will increase from 31 to 60. For the second shift, the number of passenger ships has been increased from nine to thirty."

Zhang Anshi couldn't help laughing, and said: "This is a good thing for mutual benefit. With so many manpower suddenly added, especially with so many people needing to go to Xinzhou, you will definitely not lose money if you go on a passenger ship. If people go, it is inevitable Bring more things, this freight...doesn't suffer, Mr. Ma...it seems that he can always find opportunities to make money."

Ma Yu continued: "This is only secondary. The most important thing is to be able to contribute to His Highness. Otherwise, it may not be easy to send so many people to Xinzhou at once. Ma's Shipping Industry will increase some shipping. , but also for the sake of Xinzhou."

Zhang Anshi nodded: "However, this king thinks that this is just a small profit after all. Mr. Ma is a big business person, so he won't run away for this small business. After all, what else is there, don't get me wrong, this king It's not unreasonable, it's just that I'm used to getting straight to the point."

Ma Yu smiled, Zhang Anshi's words were really not flattery to him, Ma Yu, Ma's shipping company, is now considered a leader in the sea shipping industry, and even its scale is already comparable to the second and third shipping companies. The sum of businesses is even bigger.

  Shipping is an asset-heavy industry. The annual cost of purchasing ships is astronomical. Ma's Shipping Company is also the most capitalized. Although it is not as good as Qixia Commercial Company, its growth rate is staggering.

   People like Ma Yu may not really appreciate the business of passenger and freight transportation.

  Ma Yu smiled slightly and said, "Your Highness knows me."

  He paused, and then said: "This time, Ma also hopes to go to Xinzhou."

  Zhang Anshi looked at him curiously and said, "Oh?"

  Ma Yu said: "Ma also knows a little about the situation in Xinzhou, and it is said that it is not bad. This time... I want to take this opportunity to take a real walk."

  Zhang Anshi looked at Ma Yu meaningfully: "Why?"

  Ma Yu said: "To tell the truth, there is only one thing, that is, I hope... Ma's Shipping Company intends to enter Xinzhou in a large scale."

  Zhang Anshi said: "Really?"

He looked serious, looked at Ma Yu, and said, "Mr. Ma, just tell the truth, in Xinzhou... this king has always treated everyone equally, if it's just because... I entered Xinzhou in a big way, I want to take the opportunity To please me, to teach me what kind of favors I will give you, this... will not work."

  Ma Yu shook his head: "Caomin is interested in business opportunities, and has nothing to do with His Highness."

"Business?"

Ma Yu nodded and said: "Caomin said before that the situation in Xinzhou, Caomin has some understanding, at least now the information is that the land is vast, there are no foreign enemies, and rich in minerals, and now the cities and towns everywhere have begun to take shape. The grassroots have always wanted to... Ma's boats enter the West and other places."

"It's just that most of the Western feudal states have dangerous environments, and there are many natives around them, who attack each other on weekdays. Therefore, the demand for firearms and steel is huge, and the demand for production and shipping is not small. , but it’s only secondary after all.”

Ma Yu paused, then continued: "Xinzhou is different, Xinzhou is stable, and has been carrying out land reclamation, mining, construction, and production, and this place, from the perspective of shipping, is closer to Western countries, such as Shipbuilding, if you build ships in Xinzhou, open up routes to Western countries, and supply the needs of Western countries, the cost is actually comparable to that of Ming Dynasty. After all, mineral deposits are much cheaper than Daming. In the future, smelting will definitely be The pillars of the new island."

"What's more, Xinzhou may be profitable right now, comparable to that of Daming. But Xinzhou is a barren land after all. Once the population increases in the future, in the long run, today's investment may be far less than that of Daming. It's not as good. After all... Although Daming is prosperous in all industries, after all...many industries are already overcrowded, and the competition is not small. And Xinzhou...has more room for use."

  After hearing this, Zhang Anshi couldn't help laughing, and said, "So, you want to plan ahead in Xinzhou?"

"Exactly." Ma Yu said: "Caomin in Daming, what they have been investing in is shipping. It can be done by shipping alone. It has to compete with other shipping. The risk of buying ships alone is still not small. Today Ma was able to raise funds to buy ships on a large scale, but other shipping companies are also sharpening their knives. Sooner or later, the opportunity that Ma's firm seized will gradually fade. The only way to fight against the shipping companies is to use more line operations."

"Ma heard that when I came from Xinzhou, there was a kind of iron-hulled ship that stayed at Songjiang Port, which was made in Xinzhou. I also heard that Xinzhou was planning to move the steam engine to the ship. This matter, It has greatly inspired the grassroots.”

He looked very serious, and continued: "Nowadays, the use of steam engines... is quite a lot. Many workshops use it to replace manpower and horsepower. Since it can be used to make cars, it can be used to replace manpower and water power for weaving. So... why not put it on a boat? Maybe it will become popular in the future."

"If this is the case, then it would be terrible. How much steel does it need to smelt to build new ships every year? In addition, now that the New Deal is coming, it is only a matter of time before the railways are rolled out in all provinces. How much steel is needed? In the whole world, only iron ore in Xinzhou has the cheapest excavation cost and the best quality. However, if the ore is transported to Songjiangkou for sale, the transportation cost is not small. Then... the biggest possibility is that for To meet Daming's demand for steel, there will be large-scale smelting in Xinzhou to smelt ore into high-quality steel, which will be transported to Songjiang or Pearl River to supply Daming's needs."

"In addition, there is shipbuilding. Once the steel required for shipbuilding increases greatly, the largest cost of shipbuilding in the future may be steel. If the steel is smelted in Xinzhou and transported to the shipyard of Ming Dynasty to manufacture ships, it will not only take time. It is laborious, and it also greatly increases the cost. Then the biggest possibility is... manufacturing nearby, after the steel is smelted in Xinzhou, it is directly transported to the shipyard in Xinzhou, manufactured into a ship, and then delivered.”